A British soldier was killed in Afghanistan on Wednesday by an explosion during a routine patrol, the Ministry of Defence here said.
The Royal Marine from 45 Commando was killed on New Year's Eve in the Sangin district of the troubled southern Helmand Province, where British troops are based.
"Every death is tragic, yet at the turning of the year, with the celebration and hope it promises, this loss is all the harder to bear," said Commander Paula Rowe, a spokeswoman for Task Force Helmand.
"All our thoughts go to his family, friends and colleagues who will be devastated by his sacrifice."
Next of kin have been informed.
Britain has around 8,300 troops in Afghanistan, largely battling Taliban insurgents in Helmand.
The death brings to 137 the total number of British service personnel killed in Afghanistan since 2001, when US-led forces ousted the Taliban in the wake of the September 11 attacks in New York and Washington.
Of these, 109 were killed as a result of hostile action.
Nine British soldiers have now been killed in Afghanistan in December, and 51 throughout 2008. The man is the 12th Royal Marine to die in the past two months.
